GMAT

Targeting the Right GMAT Score: A Guide to Percentiles and Strategy

The GMAT score has long served as a benchmark for graduate business school admissions. As a standardized test designed to measure critical reasoning, quantitative ability, and verbal skills, the GMAT offers business schools an objective means of comparing applicants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. More importantly, it gives insight into an applicant’s potential to succeed in a rigorous academic setting. Admissions officers view the GMAT as a predictor of first-year MBA performance, and it often becomes a key differentiator in a highly competitive application process. A strong GMAT score…

The GMAT Score Breakdown: What Every Test-Taker Should Know

The GMAT Focus Edition, launched officially on February 1, 2024, represents a foundational shift in the way graduate business school applicants are assessed. More than just a rebranded version of the traditional GMAT, the Focus Edition is a streamlined, modernized exam with a revised structure, new scoring system, and a greater emphasis on real-world analytical skills. For test-takers and admissions committees alike, the changes are not cosmetic—they signal a deeper shift in what is being measured and how performance is interpreted. The original GMAT, first administered in 1953 and last…

How to Approach GMAT Data Insights Like a Pro: From Basics to Advanced Techniques

The GMAT Data Insights section was introduced in 2025 as part of the new GMAT Focus Edition, a redesigned version of the traditional GMAT exam. This section was developed to reflect the evolving demands of graduate business education, particularly the growing emphasis on data-driven decision-making. Data Insights occupies a full one-third of your overall GMAT score, underscoring its importance in the admissions process. With 20 questions to be answered in 45 minutes, this section is time-pressured, cognitively demanding, and strategically unique. It blends verbal and quantitative skills, requiring test-takers to…

Systems of Equations: What GMAT Test Writers Don’t Want You to Know

Many GMAT test-takers carry with them a simplified memory from high school algebra: to solve for two variables, you need two equations, and more generally, to solve for n variables, you need n equations. This idea feels intuitive and often helps guide early problem solving. However, the GMAT is not designed to reward mechanical application of classroom rules. Instead, it tests critical thinking, subtle reasoning, and an understanding of how mathematics works in real-world scenarios. That means some of the rules test-takers think they remember correctly are actually incomplete or,…

Practice Makes Perfect: GMAT Data Sufficiency Samples

Consider the following Data Sufficiency question: Is y an even number? (1) y = 2x, where x is an integer (2) y² is divisible by 4 Step 1: Evaluate Statement (1) Alone This statement tells us that y is twice an integer. Since 2x for any integer x always results in an even number, y must be even. Therefore, Statement (1) is sufficient. Step 2: Evaluate Statement (2) Alone If y² is divisible by 4, then y² is an even square. However, this does not guarantee that y is even….

A Guide to Tackling Ratio Comparison Problems in GMAT 

Ratios are mathematical expressions that compare two or more quantities. They show the relative size of one quantity to another and are commonly expressed in the form A: B or as fractions like A/B. In standardized tests like the GMAT, ratios are used to evaluate your understanding of proportional relationships, which appear in various quantitative problems. Ratios do not necessarily give you the exact value of each quantity, but rather the relationship between them. For example, a ratio of 2:3 means that for every 2 units of one quantity, there…

Score Differences Between GMAT Classic and GMAT Focus 

The Graduate Management Admission Test, commonly known as the GMAT, is a widely recognized standardized test used by business schools globally to assess applicants for MBA and other graduate business programs. Over the years, the GMAT has evolved, and recently, a newer format called GMAT Focus has been introduced alongside the traditional GMAT Classic. Understanding the fundamental characteristics of each exam is essential to appreciate how their scores may differ and what those differences mean for test takers. What is the GMAT Classic? The GMAT Classic refers to the original,…

The Ultimate Guide to GMAT Focus Prep Books and Resources

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) has long been a key benchmark for business school admissions worldwide. Recently, the test has undergone a significant transformation with the introduction of the GMAT Focus edition. Unlike the traditional GMAT, this new format is designed to better align with the evolving needs of business schools and candidates by streamlining the test and focusing on skills deemed most relevant to modern business education and careers. The GMAT Focus test retains the core purpose of assessing a candidate’s readiness for graduate management programs, but it…

The Latest GMAT Exam Format Explained: Section-by-Section Breakdown

The Graduate Management Admission Test, commonly known as the GMAT, is an essential standardized exam used by business schools worldwide to assess applicants for graduate management programs such as MBA programs. Over the years, the GMAT has undergone several updates to better reflect the skills necessary for success in graduate business studies and beyond. Understanding the latest GMAT format is crucial for prospective test-takers to prepare effectively and maximize their scores. This article series will provide a detailed breakdown of the newest GMAT exam format, offering insights into each section,…

Test Your GMAT Readiness with These Free Questions

The GMAT Focus Edition marks one of the most significant overhauls to the Graduate Management Admission Test since its inception. As business schools evolve to align with the demands of modern industries and the data-driven global economy, standardized tests must also reflect these changing priorities. The GMAT Focus Edition is not merely a streamlined version of its predecessor; it is a strategically redesigned exam intended to emphasize skills most relevant to today’s business environment. Understanding this new version is not only essential for prospective MBA candidates but also for admissions…

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